Government will win vote of confidence: Congress

Source :

Last Updated: Mon, Nov 19, 2012 11:50 hrs

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Amid reports of the Mamata Banerjee−led Trinamool Congress contemplating a no−confidence motion in the winter session of parliament, the Congress party Monday said it was confident of the UPA government's numbers in the Lok Sabha.

"When it comes to vote of confidence, we are totally confident we have the numbers... and when the strength will be tested, we will pass," said party spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit here.

Asked about the opposition demand of debate on foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi−brand retail, he said the government was open to it.

"We are always open to any debate on FDI," he said. Dikshit added that the government was not afraid of a debate under a motion that entails voting, as demanded by the opposition.

"Whatever is (Lok Sabha) speaker's final decision we will welcome it and debate it," he said.

The winter session of parliament commences Nov 22. The government has been under severe attack for its decision to allow FDI in multi−brand retail, which also led to ally Trinamool Congress withdrawing its support.

The Trinamool has said it will bring a no−confidence motion against the government, and has sought the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as its rival − the Left parties.

He also clarified that the Congress had disagreed with the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) findings, but did not intend to attack the institution.

"We have differences with CAG, but it does not mean we are attacking CAG," he said.

The Congress−led government has been targeted by the opposition for attacking the constitutional body of CAG.